The Texas A&M Aggies take their undefeated record to Death Valley for a Saturday night showdown with the LSU Tigers in a critical SEC matchup. LSU can ill afford another setback after losing two of its last three games putting them on the brink of missing the college football playoff after entering the year with national championship aspirations. The game on October 25 is at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
Texas A&M at LSU Preview
This doesn’t appear to be a Texas AM team from the past, one that starts fast and fades in the rigors of a conference schedule. This group of Aggies has, according to coach Mike Elko, learned to win. They’ve been able to win high-scoring games and when points were at a premium. They beat Auburn, 16-10, in Week 5 with a season-low point total, the only time this season the Aggies failed to score more than 30 points.
Boasting an offense that produces 464 yards per game and averages 36.1 points, the Aggies have cashed the OVER on the college football odds in their last two outings and in five of seven games this season. Marcel Reed accounted for four TDs in last week’s 45-42 win over Arkansas.
- The Aggies are 3-4 against the college football pointspread this season.
- The defense allowed 527 yards to the Razorbacks last week and ranks 9th in the SEC giving up an average of 327.7 yards.
- Reed has accounted for 19 TDs (15 pass, 4 rush) this season and is 3rd in the SEC in TD passes.
- The Aggies failed to cover at Arkansas last week and are 0-4 ATS in their last four SEC road games.
The season is slipping away from LSU with two losses in three games. The lack of punch on offense was overlooked during a four-game winning streak to start the season, and putting up 56 points against SE Louisiana quieted concerns. Take that game out of the equation and LSU is averaging only 20.5 points, a number that would have them close to the bottom of the SEC.
Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t been bad, but a guy propped as a Heisman Trophy candidate has to do better. Nussmeier is completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards and 11 TDs. But five interceptions and the lack of a ground game has thwarted production allowing the Tigers to go 5-2 against the UNDER.
- The Tigers are unbeaten in four home games this season and have just one loss at home in their last 21
- LSU has cashed the UNDER in eight of their last 10 home games.
- With a 56 percent red zone TD rate, the Tigers are better only than South Carolina in the SEC in that category.
- LSU is 117th nationally in rushing yards per game.
Texas A&M at LSU Predictions
LSU hasn’t been very efficient on offense this season, but Nussmeier can go off at any time and the production has been better for the Tigers at home. I’m not convinced the Aggies’ defense can keep LSU down, especially after getting torched by Arkansas last week. AM will hold up its end of the deal with Reed contributing and I can see the teams going OVER the total.
Texas A&M at LSU Betting Tips
- The Aggies opened at -3 and are -141 on the moneyline.
- LSU is getting points for the third time in four games, losing and failing to cover the previous two.
- The Tigers are +124 on the moneyline and the total hit at 47.5.
- The UNDER is 3-1 in LSU home games this season.
- Texas A&M scored a total of 86 points cashing the OVER in two road games this season.
Texas A&M at LSU Head to Head and Key Stats
- The teams have split the last eight meetings with each winning four times at home.
- LSU has payouts in six of the eight games in that span, including all four at Tiger Stadium.
- The winning team has scored at least 38 points in seven of the last nine matchups.
- The UNDER cashed in the last four meetings and in seven of the last nine.
- The QBs put on a show last year with Nussmeier throwing for 405 yards and 2 TDs and Reed rushing for 62 yards and 3 TDs on nine attempts.
